Symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Drainage from the ear
• Hearing loss in one ear

Signs and tests:

An ear exam may show a pocket or perforation (opening) in the eardrum, often with drainage. The deposit of old skin cells may be visible with a microscope or an otoscope, a special instrument to view the ear. Sometimes a mass of blood vessels may be seen in the ear.

The following tests may be performed to rule out other causes of dizziness.

• CT scan
• Electronystagmography

Treatment:

Surgery is needed to remove the cyst.

Expectations (prognosis):

Cholesteatomas usually continue to grow if not removed. Surgery usually works, but you may occasionally need the ear cleaned by a health care provider. Additional surgery may be needed if the cholesteatoma comes back.

Complications:

• Brain abscess
• Deafness in one ear
• Dizziness (vertigo)
• Erosion into the facial nerve (causing facial paralysis)
• Labyrinthitis
• Meningitis
• Persistent ear drainage
• Spread of the cyst into the brain

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if ear pain, drainage from the ear, or other symptoms occur or worsen, or if hearing loss occurs.

Prevention:

Prompt and complete treatment of chronic ear infection may help to prevent some cases of cholesteatoma.